Container opening apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for opening containers and removing the contents from the containers. A wheel is rotatably mounted to a stand having recesses formed on its outer extremity for receiving containers dispensed from a first chute positioned over the wheel. The wheel is rotatably driven forcing the ends of the container past a pair of stationary blades which remove the ends of the container. A wall mounted to the stand has an upper curved surface which projects into the wheel so as to crush the containers after the ends have been removed. A receptacle is positioned under the wheel to catch the contents of the containers as the containers are crushed. A wedge mounted to the stand projects into the wheel removing the crushed empty containers from the wheel.

United States Patent Happel 1 51 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] CONTAINER OPENING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Hermann E. Happel, Indianapolis,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: F. H. Langsenkamp Co., Indi- 'anapolis,1nd.

[22] Filed:

Feb. 24, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 118,319

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky AttorneyWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton v, ABSTRACT An apparatus for opening containers and removing the contents from the containers. A wheel is rotatably mounted to a stand having recesses formed on its outer extremity for receiving containers dispensed from a first chute positioned over the wheel. The wheel is rotatably driven forcing the ends of the container past a pair of stationary blades which remove the ends of the container. A wall mounted to the stand has an upper curved surface which projects into the wheel so as to crush the containers after the ends have been removed. A receptacle is positioned under the wheel to catch the contents of the containers as the containers are crushed. A wedge mounted to the stand projects into the wheel removing the crushed empty containers from thewheel.

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ATTORNEYS CONTAINER OPENING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of container opening devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many products are packaged into metal cans or containers automatically by machines which dispense the product into the container and then seal the end of the container with a cap. It is possible to dispense a wrong proportion of ingredients into the can. For example, soup may be dispensed into the can without the required spices. Thus, it is desirable to reclaim the product within the can in such a manner so as to' be economically feasible.

Several devices have been provided to open containers. Some of these devices are shown in the following US. Pat. Nos. 1,325,983 issued to Fogh; 1,469,398 issued to Street; 2,463,276 issued to Hrabarchuk; 2,668,550 issued to Burge; and, 2,765,005 issued to Wellekens.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art container opening devices. For example, both ends of the container are removed by the apparatus disclosed herein and the container main body is then squeezed so as to force the product within the container into the receptacle. The ends of the container are peeled from the container so as to prevent small sliversof container material from contaminating the product within the container. The apparatus has a rotatable wheel for receiving the unopened containers and rotates the containers past the blades so as to occupy a relatively small amount of space as compared with the conveyor type devices disclosed in the above listed Letters Patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of this invention is an apparatus for opening containers comprising: support means; a wheel rotatably mounted to said means and having first and second sides and a circumferential extremity with recesses formed thereon, said recesses sized to receive and carry containers each having a first and second end projecting outward of said wheel; and, a first knife mounted adjacent said wheel and fixed relative to said means for removing said first end as said wheel rotates and carries said containers past said knife.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for opening containers which is'operable to remove the contents of the containers by first removing the ends of the containers and by then squeezing the containers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus as described in the last object and which occupies less space than the traditional devices which utilize conveyor belts.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a container opening apparatus which will open containers without cutting the containers so as to allow small slivers of the container material to contaminate the contents within the containers.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a container opening apparatus incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of arrows 2-2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and fiirther modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention'as illustrated therein being contemplated as would norrnally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a container opening apparatus 10 having a wheel 11 rotatably mounted therein with recesses 12 provided around the circumferential extremity of the wheel. Recesses 12 receive and carry 31. An electrical motor 18 is fixedly mounted atop shelf 16 and is operatively connected via coupling 19 to transmission 20 also fixedly mounted atop shelf 16. Transmission 20 has an output shaft with gear 21 fastened thereon. The teeth of gear 21 are in meshing engagement with drive chain 22 which extends upwardly being guided by three turning gear 23 rotatably mounted to stand 15. Drive chain 22 is in meshing engagement with the teeth of sprocket 24 which is secured to the end of axle 25. Axle 25 is rotatably mounted by bearings 28 and 28' to mounting plates 26 and 27. Excellent results have been obtained by using a 2-horsepower motor for motor 18 having an output of approximately 1,800 revolutions per minute. A double reduction worm and helical gear having a 100 to 1 reduction ratio has been utilized in transmission 20 to drive chain 22.

Angle brackets 33 and 34 are secured to top wall by fasteners or other suitable means. Plates 26 and 27 are fastened by bolts 35 (FIG. 3) tothe upstanding legs of angle brackets 33 and 34. Plates 26 and 27 are parallel and are spaced apart by rods 59, 59 and 59" (FIGS. 3 and 4). Rod 59 has a pair of ends extending through plates 26 and 27 threadedly receiving nuts 60. A spacing cylinder encloses rod 59 and has ends abutting the mutually facing surfaces of plates 26 and 27. Likewise, rod 59 extends through plates 26 and 27 being threadedly received by nuts and being enclosed by spacing cylinder 91 abutting and spacing plates 26 and 27. Rod 59" extends through plates 26 and 27 and has a spacing cylinder 92 abutting the plates. Other rods and spacing cylinders are utilized throughout the lengths of plates 26 and 27 for spacing the plates apart.

As previously mentioned, sprocket 24 (FIG. 3) is fixedly secured to the end of axle 25 which is rotatable in bearings 28 and 28 secured to plates 26 and 27. Mounted to the center of axle 25 is hub 29. Hub 29 is keyed to axle 25 so as to prevent relative motion between the axle and hub. Spindle arms 38 project outwardly from hub 29 and are secured to the hub by fillet welds 39. FIG. 4 illustrates four spindle arms 38; however, it is understood that a number other than four arms may be employed in wheel 1 1. Secured to the outermost ends of arms 38 by welds 41 is an inner rim 40 extending completely around the wheel. A pair of parallel side walls 43 and 44 (FIG. 3) are spaced apart and fastened to rim 40 by studs 45. An outer rim 42 positioned outwardly of rim 40 extends around the perimeter of the wheel being secured to side walls 43 and 44 by fastening devices 53. Side walls 43 and 44 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extend around wheel 1 1 having spaced apart curved surfaces 52 for receiving the containers. Recesses 12 are separated by pairs of support walls 46 and 47 secured to side walls 43 and 44 by screws 48. Support walls 46 and 47 are spaced apart forming opening 49.

The ends 55 and 56 (FIG.- 3) of each container 13 project exteriorly of side walls 44 and 43 so asto be cut from the main body of the container by stationary blades 61 and 62 as the container is rotated past the blades by wheel 1 1. A pair of parallel containing plates 57 and 58 are mounted on spacing cylinders 90, 91 and 92 by clamps 81. Each clamp is hollow and is tightened against a spacing cylinder by a bolt or other suitable means. Each clamp has an outer surface secured to and through a containing plate.- Plate 57 is positioned adjacent and parallel with wall 43 whereas containing plate 58 is positioned parallel with and adjacent side wall 44. Plates 57 and 58 extend from the top of the apparatus adjacent chute 14 to a position indicated generally as location 69 (FIG. 4). Thus, containers 13 are prevented from falling from the wheel by containing plates 57 and 58 as the wheel rotates from chute 14 to location 69. The pair of stationary blades 61 and 62 are fastened to containing plates 57 and 58 by fasteners 63. The blades are positioned on the exterior surfaces of plates 57 and 58 so as to be parallel with and immediately adjacent surfaces 50 and 51 of side walls 43 and 44.

Blade 62 will now be described it being understood that a similar description applies to blade 61. Blade 62 (FIG. 4) has a main body 66 fastened to plate 58 by fasteners 63. The uppermost end of blade 61 is shaped defining a pointed tip 64. The edge of blade 61 nearest the center of wheel 11 is curved inwardlydefining a sharp cutting edge 65 whereas the edge farthest from the center of wheel 11 is curved outwardly defining cutting edge 65'. Thus, as wheel 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow 70 (FIG. 4), the tips 69 of the two blades will pierce the container and the ends of the container will be removed from the container by edges 65 and 65' of the blades. The removed container ends then fall from the apparatus through an opening 71 provided in each mounting plate 26 and 27. Opening 71 of plate 27 is shown in FIG. 1. Chutes may be fastened to mounting plates 26 and 27 adjacent openings 71 to carry the removed container ends away from the apparatus.

Plate 72 (FIG. 4) is secured between equidistant mounting plates 27 and 28 by rods 59 and 79. Both rods 59 and 79 have threaded ends secured to plates 26 and 27 by nuts threaded onto the ends of the rods. Plate 72 is positioned equidistant between the pair of blades and containing plates 57 and 58. Plate 72 extends generally from the bottom ends of plates 57 and 58 indicated as location 69 to location indicated generally at 74. The upper edge 73 of plate 72 curves slowly inward from location 69 to 74 into the wheel eventually fitting between support walls 46 and 47 and in opening 49 (FIG. 3). Thus, as The wheel is rotated in the direction of arrow and the ends of the container are peeled from the container by the blades, the container will eventually abut the upper edge 73 of plate 72 until the walls of the container are squeezed inwardly so as to force the contents within the container to exit the ends of the container. The contents from each container then fall from the container through an opening in the top wall 75 of stand 15 into a receptacle 76 (FIG. 2) secured to top wall 75 of stand 15.

Mounted to and betweenplates 26 and 27 by fastening device 79 is wedge 77 having a lower pointed end 80 which projects into opening 49 thereby forcing the container from the wheel into chute 78 also secured to plates 26 and 27. Thus, the empty crushed can falls from the wheel into chute 78.

The apparatus disclosed herein is adapted to receive different lengths and diameters of containers. For-example, side walls 43 and 44 (FIG. 3) may be spaced farther apart to receive a longer container by placing shims or spacers between side walls 43, 44 and inner rim 40. In addition, a wider outer rim 42 may be connected between parallel walls 43 and 44. In order to accommodate larger or smaller diametered containers, walls 43 and 44 may be replaced by removing fasteners 45, 53 and 48 and by replacing the side walls with side walls having a curved surface 52 complementary to the container to be received. Whenever walls 43 and 44 are spaced farther or nearer apart, blades 61 and 62 as well as the containing plates 57 and 58 should be positioned accordingly. Thus, plates 57 and 58 are mounted to adjustable sleeves 81 (FIG. 3) which may be adjusted along the length of cylinders 90, 91 and 92. The main body of the blade should be positioned between the ends of the can and the main portion of the can. Thus, as the wheel rotates, the ends or caps of the container which are usually crimped to the body of the container are peeled off by the blades. as a result of this peeling action and the shape of these blades, it has been found that slivers of container material do not fall from the container as typically occurs when metal is severed. The parallel mutually facing surfaces of the blades function to hold the major portion of the contents of the container inside the container until the container moves downwardly to location 69. Blades 61 and 62 are fixed relative to stand 15.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a container opening apparatus which is operable to remove the contents of containers by first removing the ends of containers and by then squeezing the main body of the container. The apparatus occupies a relatively small amount of space since a rotatable wheel is utilized in lieu of a conveyor belt. In addition, it will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a container opening apparatus which will open containers without cutting the containers so as to allow small slivers of the container material to contaminate the contents within the container.

While the invention 'has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for opening containers comprising: a support means; a wheel rotatably mounted to said means and having first and second sides and a circumferential extremity with recesses formed thereon, said recesses sized to receive and carry containers each having a first and second end projecting outward of said wheel; and,

a first knife mounted adjacent said wheel and fixed relative to said means for removing said first end as said wheel rotates and carries said containers past said knife,

Y and further comprising: a first member connected to said means adjacent a portion of said circumferential extremity, said first member positioned to contact and secure said containers within said wheel;

a second member connected to said means adjacent a portion of said circumferential extremity", said second member having an upper edge curved into said wheel; and,

a second knife mounted adjacent said wheel and fixed relative to said means for removing said second end as said wheel rotates and carries said containers past said second knife.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second knives have main bodies with sharp tips, cutting edges, and mutually facing parallel surfaces; and further comprising:

a container removal wedge connected to said means and projecting into said wheel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said wheel has a pair of parallel side walls spaced apart and defining said circumferential extremity and recesses;

said second member and said wedge project between said side walls; and,

said containers are metal cans having capped and closed tubular bodies.

4. A container opening apparatus comprising: sup- 10 port means;

a carrier mounted to said means and having first and second sides, said carrier having recesses adapted t c containe eac ha 0 it e dswi t e c iii poshe en prtijectir ig o rv rrfly beyon said first and second sides; and,

a pair of stationary blades mounted on said support means, each of said blades being positioned adjacent one of said sides, said blades each having a main body with a pointed tip and a sharp cutting edge; and

second means for causing relative motion between said carrier and said blades,

and further comprising:

a container crusher mounted to said means and positioned equidistant between said first and second sides, said crusher having a curved edge extending from exteriorly of said carrier to interiorly of said carrier; and,

a container remover mounted to said means and positioned between said first and second sides and extending into said carrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising:

a first chute mounted over said carrier dispensing said containers to said carrier;

a receptacle mounted beneath said carrier receiving the contents of said container; and,

a second chute mounted to said means receiving said containers from said remover.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising:

a pair of parallel mounting plates having said carrier rotatably mounted thereon and being positioned outwardly of said blades, and wherein:

said carrier is a wheel having a rim with an axis of rotation and a pair of side walls removably mounted to said rim; and,

said crusher extends progressively closer to said axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

said tip of each blade is positioned adjacent said rim so as to pierce said ends, said main body of each blade closes said container holding the contents therein after said ends are removed. 

1. An apparatus for opening containers comprising: a support means; a wheel rotatably mounted to said means and having first and second sides and a circumferential extremity with recesses formed thereon, said recesses sized to receive and carry containers each having a first and second end projecting outward of said wheel; and, a first knife mounted adjacent said wheel and fixed relative to said means for removing said first end as said wheel rotates and carries said containers past said knife, and further comprising: a firsT member connected to said means adjacent a portion of said circumferential extremity, said first member positioned to contact and secure said containers within said wheel; a second member connected to said means adjacent a portion of said circumferential extremity, said second member having an upper edge curved into said wheel; and, a second knife mounted adjacent said wheel and fixed relative to said means for removing said second end as said wheel rotates and carries said containers past said second knife.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first and second knives have main bodies with sharp tips, cutting edges, and mutually facing parallel surfaces; and further comprising: a container removal wedge connected to said means and projecting into said wheel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said wheel has a pair of parallel side walls spaced apart and defining said circumferential extremity and recesses; said second member and said wedge project between said side walls; and, said containers are metal cans having capped and closed tubular bodies.
 4. A container opening apparatus comprising: support means; a carrier mounted to said means and having first and second sides, said carrier having recesses adapted to carry containers each having opposite ends with the opposite ends projecting outwardly beyond said first and second sides; and, a pair of stationary blades mounted on said support means, each of said blades being positioned adjacent one of said sides, said blades each having a main body with a pointed tip and a sharp cutting edge; and second means for causing relative motion between said carrier and said blades, and further comprising: a container crusher mounted to said means and positioned equidistant between said first and second sides, said crusher having a curved edge extending from exteriorly of said carrier to interiorly of said carrier; and, a container remover mounted to said means and positioned between said first and second sides and extending into said carrier.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising: a first chute mounted over said carrier dispensing said containers to said carrier; a receptacle mounted beneath said carrier receiving the contents of said container; and, a second chute mounted to said means receiving said containers from said remover.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising: a pair of parallel mounting plates having said carrier rotatably mounted thereon and being positioned outwardly of said blades, and wherein: said carrier is a wheel having a rim with an axis of rotation and a pair of side walls removably mounted to said rim; and, said crusher extends progressively closer to said axis.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said tip of each blade is positioned adjacent said rim so as to pierce said ends, said main body of each blade closes said container holding the contents therein after said ends are removed. 